MRO & Manufacturing
SSAMC Becomes First CFM LEAP Premier MRO Provider in China
SSAMC, a joint venture by Air China and CFM International, is certified as China’s first Premier MRO provider for all CFM LEAP engines including LEAP-1C.
This article is based on an official press release from CFM International.
On May 26, 2026, CFM International and Air China announced a major milestone for China’s domestic aviation infrastructure. Their joint venture, Sichuan Services Aero-engine Maintenance Company (SSAMC), has been officially designated as the first CFM LEAP Premier Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) provider in China. The announcement was made during the MRO Greater China event, marking a significant expansion of engine maintenance capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region.
According to the official press release from CFM International, SSAMC is now fully licensed to service the entire CFM LEAP engine family. This includes the LEAP-1A, which powers the Airbus A320neo family; the LEAP-1B, used on the Boeing 737 MAX family; and crucially, the LEAP-1C, the exclusive Western powerplant for the COMAC C919 passenger jet.
Notably, this agreement makes SSAMC the first facility in the world authorized to provide Premier MRO services specifically for the LEAP-1C engine. For an industry currently grappling with supply chain constraints and a surge in maintenance demand, the certification of the Chengdu-based facility represents a critical pressure relief valve for both domestic Chinese operations and the broader global aviation market.
Expanding Domestic Capabilities for the COMAC C919
Fleet Growth and Supply Chain Independence
The timing of SSAMC’s certification aligns closely with the rapid operational scaling of China’s homegrown narrowbody aircraft, the COMAC C919. As the aircraft transitions from trial operations into scaled commercial service, the need for localized, world-class maintenance has become paramount. According to reporting by China Daily, the C919 fleet had successfully completed over 42,000 commercial passenger flights as of April 30, 2026.
China’s major state-owned carriers are aggressively expanding their C919 networks to meet domestic travel demand. Industry estimates reported by Aviation Week project that Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern will receive a combined 33 C919 deliveries in 2026 alone. Air China, which recently placed an order for 100 extended-range variants of the C919, expects 10 of those deliveries this year.
In a statement included in the CFM International press release, Air China leadership emphasized the strategic importance of this localized MRO capability:
“As a shareholder and major customer of SSAMC, Air China highly values this milestone. SSAMC’s admission into the CFM LEAP Premier MRO ecosystem elevates our long-standing partnership with CFM to a new level and strengthens support for our fleet, especially the growing C919 fleet. With strong shareholder backing, SSAMC is positioning itself for even greater success ahead.”
Addressing the Global LEAP Maintenance Wave
The Open MRO Ecosystem
Beyond the domestic implications for the C919, SSAMC’s new status addresses a pressing macroeconomic trend in global aviation: the impending wave of engine overhauls. The CFM LEAP family, which succeeded the ubiquitous CFM56, is currently the dominant engine in the global narrowbody market. According to industry assessments from LARA, nearly 8,000 LEAP units have been delivered worldwide.
Engines delivered in the late 2010s are now reaching the threshold for their first Performance Restoration Shop Visits (PRSVs). CFM International has publicly noted that LEAP shop visits are forecast to increase significantly by the end of the decade due to high utilization rates by airlines globally. By integrating SSAMC into its “open MRO ecosystem,” CFM aims to foster competition among Premier MRO providers and third-party shops, ultimately helping airlines optimize maintenance costs and secure faster turnaround times.
SSAMC leadership expressed readiness to tackle this influx of maintenance work, citing their extensive operational history:
“We’re honored to become the first Premier MRO shop in the world for all CFM LEAP engine types, including LEAP-1C. This builds on the experience we’ve gained with LEAP engines since its entry into service in China and with CFM56 engines over our 27 years of operation.”
A Decades-Long Partnership
Air China and CFM’s Unique History
The foundation for this new Premier MRO status was laid decades ago. Established in Chengdu in 1999, SSAMC is a 60/40 joint venture between Air China and CFM International (which is itself a 50/50 joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines). Over its 27-year history, the 40,000-square-meter facility has serviced over 2,800 CFM engines, transitioning from legacy CFM56 models to the latest generation of LEAP engines.
This deep integration between an airline and an engine manufacturer is highly unusual in the commercial aviation sector. According to the CFM press release, Air China holds a distinct position in the industry regarding its engine operations.
“Air China is the only airline in the world to have operated six generations of CFM engines and established an engine maintenance shop with us. This agreement builds on that rich history together.”
AirPro News analysis
We view the certification of SSAMC as a dual-purpose strategic maneuver. For China, it is the missing puzzle piece for the COMAC C919’s long-term viability. The C919 program has historically faced production bottlenecks due to slow deliveries of imported components. By establishing a Premier MRO shop within its borders, China ensures that its homegrown jets can be maintained and overhauled domestically, effectively insulating its fleet from international shipping delays or potential geopolitical export hurdles.
For CFM International and the broader global market, expanding the Premier MRO network into Asia is a necessary step to handle the impending capacity crunch. As early-generation LEAP engines require heavy maintenance, global shop capacity will be stretched thin. Adding a proven, high-volume facility like SSAMC to the top-tier network helps alleviate these bottlenecks, ensuring that Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX operators in the region can maintain high fleet availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Premier MRO Provider?
In CFM International’s ecosystem, a Premier MRO provider is a maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility that is officially licensed and certified by the manufacturer to perform comprehensive service, repairs, and overhauls on specific engine models to the highest factory standards.
Why is the LEAP-1C engine significant?
The LEAP-1C is the exclusive Western engine option for the COMAC C919, China’s domestically produced narrowbody commercial passenger jet. Maintaining these engines locally is critical for the operational efficiency of Chinese airlines.
Who owns SSAMC?
Sichuan Services Aero-engine Maintenance Company (SSAMC) is a joint venture owned 60% by Air China and 40% by CFM International.
Sources: CFM International
MRO & Manufacturing
FSU Breaks Ground on $398.8M Aerospace Facility in Panama City
FSU and The St. Joe Company launch a $398.8M aerospace research and manufacturing facility in Panama City, Florida.
Florida State University (FSU) and The St. Joe Company have announced the development of a $398.8 million aerospace research and advanced manufacturing facility in Panama City, Florida, anchored by a 23-acre land donation and a $98.4 million regional grant.
The project, officially unveiled in a joint press release on November 3, 2026, represents a major physical expansion of FSU’s Institute for Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Research and Education (InSPIRE). Positioned within The St. Joe Company’s VentureCrossings Enterprise Centre near the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), the site will focus on aerospace testing, advanced manufacturing, workforce development, and national defense applications.
Funding structure and project scope
The financial foundation for the Panama City facility relies on a combination of state recovery funds, university commitments, and future grant targets. The total estimated project cost for the InSPIRE initiative is $398.8 million. The primary catalyst for the development is a $98.4 million grant from Triumph Gulf Coast, a nonprofit organization that oversees funds recovered for economic damages from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The funds are specifically designated for economic recovery and diversification in eight Northwest Florida counties.
The Triumph Gulf Coast board voted unanimously to support the FSU InSPIRE proposal in November 2023 and gave full and final approval to the proposed budget on April 10, 2024. In addition to the grant, FSU has committed $65 million to the project over a 10-year period. The university has also pledged to secure a minimum of $235 million in additional grant funding to complete the facility’s long-term objectives.
FSU President Richard McCullough formally announced the 23-acre land donation during the university’s Board of Trustees meeting on October 30, 2026, preceding the public announcement. Construction on the first phase of the aerospace and advanced manufacturing facility officially began on November 2, 2026.
“This is an exciting milestone for Florida State University and for Northwest Florida. InSPIRE will build on our strengths in aerospace research and advanced manufacturing while creating new opportunities for innovation, industry partnerships and high-paying jobs. We’re grateful to The St. Joe Company for donating this land and to Triumph Gulf Coast for helping make this project possible,” McCullough said.
Infrastructure and future hypersonic capabilities
The facility is located within the VentureCrossings Enterprise Centre, a commercial and industrial hub developed by The St. Joe Company. The development features pad-ready and build-to-suit sites designed specifically to attract aerospace, defense, and manufacturing businesses that require continuous operations and immediate access to air, land, and sea transportation networks.
William Brock, Vice President of Commercial Real Estate for The St. Joe Company, noted that the university’s presence will complement existing and future development at the site. He stated that the project demonstrates the potential of the strategically located commercial hub near the airport.
Following the completion of the centralized advanced manufacturing and aerospace testing facilities, FSU plans to expand the site’s technical capabilities. Future construction phases will include a hypersonic wind tunnel designed for research into high-speed flight technologies. This specific infrastructure is intended to support national defense applications and attract specialized aerospace contractors to the region.
Regional economic integration and corporate ties
The partnership between FSU and The St. Joe Company builds on established institutional connections. The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) is a diversified real estate development, asset management, and operating company headquartered in Watersound, Florida. Founded in 1936 as the St. Joe Paper Company, it is one of the largest private landowners in the state, with holdings heavily concentrated in the Northwest Panhandle.
Jorge Gonzalez, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of The St. Joe Company, is a two-time graduate of FSU and currently serves on the university’s Board of Trustees. The land donation and subsequent facility development align with the company’s broader strategy to anchor its commercial real estate portfolio with high-value research and manufacturing tenants.
“This project represents an important investment in Northwest Florida’s future. By bringing together university research, advanced manufacturing, and industry partners, FSU is helping to create opportunities for innovation, economic growth, and high paying jobs in our region,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez added that working with institutions like FSU helps create opportunities that attract talent to the area, support new businesses, and contribute to the continued growth of Northwest Florida.
FSU’s broader research expansion
The InSPIRE program serves as FSU’s applied research and workforce development arm in Northwest Florida. It is designed to accelerate technology innovation, cultivate corporate investment, and foster high-skill employment in the aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors.
The aerospace facility announcement aligns with FSU’s broader “ASPIRE” strategic plan to expand its research infrastructure across multiple disciplines. In the weeks preceding the aerospace announcement, FSU opened the FSU Health research and collaboration building and secured $18 million in funding to develop an advanced research facility at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (MagLab). The Panama City project represents the university’s largest recent physical expansion specifically targeted at applied aerospace and defense research.
MRO & Manufacturing
ORIX Aviation Completes $640M Acquisition of AerFin
ORIX Aviation finalizes its $640M buyout of AerFin, entering the used serviceable material and end-of-life asset market.
ORIX Aviation Systems Limited has finalized its $640 million acquisition of UK-based aviation aftermarket specialist AerFin Limited, marking the Dublin-headquartered lessor’s formal entry into the used serviceable material (USM) and end-of-life asset market.
The transaction, officially completed on November 2, 2026, transfers 100 percent of AerFin’s issued share capital to ORIX Aviation. The buyout facilitates the exit of Danish private equity firm CataCap, which had held a majority stake since 2019, alongside other minority shareholders.
Strategic expansion into the aftermarket
The acquisition was initially announced on August 3, 2026, and received clearance from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) in Ireland on August 26, 2026. The deal carries an enterprise value of approximately $640 million, equivalent to £475 million or ¥100 billion.
Established in 1991 as a subsidiary of Japanese financial services conglomerate ORIX Corporation, ORIX Aviation has traditionally focused on aircraft leasing and asset management. The integration of AerFin allows the lessor to offer a complete lifecycle service, combining its existing investment portfolio with AerFin’s aftermarket, part-out, and engine maintenance capabilities.
“The acquisition of AerFin is a significant milestone for ORIX Aviation and ORIX Group as we expand our capabilities across the aircraft lifecycle. AerFin has built a leading aviation aftermarket platform, supported by an experienced management team, deep technical expertise and a global customer network. Together, we will be well positioned to deliver additional value for customers and investors, while supporting a more sustainable aviation industry through the reuse and optimisation of aircraft assets.”
The statement was provided by James Meyler, Chief Executive Officer of ORIX Aviation, in the company’s official release.
AerFin will now operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of ORIX Aviation. Simon Goodson, Chief Executive Officer of AerFin, noted that the integration aligns with the company’s focus on trusted partnerships and flexible customer solutions.
AerFin’s growth and recent market activity
Founded in 2010 by Bob James, AerFin specializes in aircraft and engine disassembly, component management, and the sale or lease of serviceable parts. The company expanded its expertise from engine components into airframes following its 2015 acquisition of Airline Service Components (ASC).
AerFin relocated to a new global headquarters in Newport, South Wales, in early 2025. The firm currently employs 230 people and operates additional hubs in Miami, Singapore, and Dublin, serving a customer base of over 600 operators and maintenance providers across six continents.
Bob James, Founder of AerFin, expressed confidence in the transition under Goodson’s leadership, stating that he recognized a strong leadership team and a long-term home for the business within the ORIX Group.
The company has remained highly active in the market leading up to the acquisition’s closure. On September 1, 2026, AerFin and Turning Rock Partners expanded their partnership through a second asset-backed financing agreement secured by three Airbus A220 aircraft. These airframes will eventually be dismantled by AerFin to supply the growing market for A220 USM.
During the same month, Tarmac Aerosave strengthened its collaboration with AerFin, committing to the dismantling and recycling of more than 10 new-generation narrow-body aircraft in the coming months. This agreement specifically targets the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX families.
Market context and supply chain pressures
The aviation aftermarket is currently experiencing heightened demand for USM. Airlines and lessors are navigating prolonged Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) supply chain constraints and rising costs for new parts. Strategic teardowns and component pooling have become critical mechanisms for maintaining active fleet operations and optimizing the value of end-of-life assets.
AirPro News analysis
We view this acquisition as a clear indicator of major lessors seeking to capture value at the very end of an aircraft’s economic life. With new aircraft deliveries from Boeing and Airbus facing persistent delays, older airframes are flying longer, driving up maintenance requirements and the corresponding demand for USM. By bringing AerFin in-house, ORIX Aviation secures a captive channel for part-out operations. This vertical integration hedges against residual value risks in its leasing portfolio, ensuring that even when an aircraft can no longer be leased profitably, its component value can be fully realized and fed back into the constrained global supply chain.
MRO & Manufacturing
Safran Opens AI Centre of Excellence in Singapore for MRO
Safran signs MoU with Singapore EDB to establish Safran.AI subsidiary focused on automated digital inspection for MRO.
Safran has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Singapore Economic Development Board to establish its first international artificial intelligence subsidiary, creating a new AI Centre of Excellence focused on aviation maintenance.
Announced in a company press release on October 29, 2026, the agreement will see Safran.AI develop automated digital inspection solutions to support Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. The move aligns with Singapore’s broader strategy to position itself as a primary hub for advanced Industry 4.0 technologies.
Advancing MRO 4.0 in the Asia-Pacific
The new Singapore-based entity will serve as a regional hub for Safran.AI, a subsidiary of Safran Electronics & Defense. The primary technical focus of the Centre of Excellence will be the development of artificial intelligence solutions tailored for industrial applications, specifically targeting the automation of digital inspections. This capability is a core component of MRO 4.0, an industry-wide push to digitize and automate legacy aviation maintenance processes to improve accuracy and efficiency.
Hiring for the new subsidiary is scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2027. Safran expects to recruit approximately 50 employees over the next five years, focusing on specialized roles including data scientists and AI engineers to build out the local research and innovation capabilities.
“Safran.AI Singapore marks a new step in our strategy, drawing on exceptional talent and a world-class aviation maintenance ecosystem,” said Sébastien Fabre, CEO of Safran.AI. “We look forward to building a team of engineers and data scientists that will contribute to our growth across Southeast Asia.”
The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) is actively supporting the initiative as part of its mandate to attract high-technology investments to the city-state. Cindy Koh, Executive Vice President of the EDB, noted that the partnership will drive aerospace innovation and advanced manufacturing across the region while creating opportunities for the local workforce.
Expanding an established footprint in Singapore
The agreement builds upon a long-standing relationship between the French aerospace manufacturer and the Southeast Asian nation. Safran has maintained a presence in Singapore for more than 45 years and currently employs approximately 900 people across five production, engineering, and maintenance sites.
“Singapore has created a particularly attractive environment for the development of Safran’s activities, combining a dynamic business ecosystem, academic excellence and strong support from the authorities,” said Philippe Errera, Executive Vice President of International Development and Government Affairs at Safran.
The AI Centre of Excellence announcement follows a series of recent infrastructure investments by the company in the region. On September 22, 2026, Safran Landing Systems inaugurated a US$22 million extension of its MRO center in Singapore. That project, also supported by the EDB, added a 7,500-square-meter building featuring a new assembly line dedicated to landing gear overhauls.
The company’s regional expansion extends beyond Singapore. On October 28, 2026, Safran announced the expansion of its carbon brake facility and the opening of a new MRO center in neighboring Malaysia, reinforcing its industrial capacity to support growing Asia-Pacific airline fleets.
The evolution of Safran.AI
The technology underpinning the new Centre of Excellence stems from Safran’s recent strategic acquisitions. Safran.AI was formerly known as Preligens, a company founded in 2016 that established itself as a specialist in geospatial artificial intelligence for aerospace, defense, and government applications.
Safran finalized the acquisition of Preligens on September 2, 2024, in a transaction with an enterprise value of 220 million euros. Following the acquisition, the company was rebranded as Safran.AI and integrated into Safran Electronics & Defense. The parent division employs 19,000 people globally and provides solutions in avionics, optronics, inertial navigation, and artificial intelligence.
Prior to its integration into the commercial MRO sector, the Preligens technology was primarily utilized to process large data flows, including satellite imagery and drone video streams. The Singapore facility represents a dedicated effort to adapt these complex data-processing capabilities for industrial digital inspection, allowing maintenance providers to automate the detection of structural defects and component wear on commercial aircraft.
AirPro News analysis
The establishment of an AI Centre of Excellence in Singapore highlights a distinct shift in how aerospace manufacturers are approaching aftermarket services. By embedding artificial intelligence directly into the MRO workflow, Safran is positioning itself to reduce turnaround times and improve defect detection rates in a region experiencing rapid fleet growth. The sequential investments in Singapore and Malaysia throughout late 2026 indicate that the Asia-Pacific market is no longer just a destination for localized repair work, but a primary testing ground for next-generation aviation maintenance technologies.
-
Technology & Innovation4 days agoJoby Aviation Begins eVTOL Flights in Florida Under eIPP
-
Technology & Innovation6 days agoNASA X-59 Reaches Mach 1.53 in First Year of Flight Testing
-
Commercial Aviation6 days agoBoeing 2026 Air Cargo Forecast: Freighter Fleet to Hit 4,010
-
Technology & Innovation4 days agoArcher Aviation and ITA Airways Partner on Italy eVTOL Network
-
Regulations & Safety7 days agoFAA Draft Vertiport Design Standards Remove Weight and Size Limits